As we approach the wonderful season of Christmas I can't help but think back to all the wonderful toys I wanted for Christmas when I was about Opie's age. We always waited anxiously for the catalogs to come in the mail with all the toys that came out for the Christmas season. It got me thinking that we seldom saw Opie playing with toys. He had his cap pistol on a number of occasions and I recall seeing him playing with his army men on the porch when they were talking about taking in Frank Myers when he was evicted. But I don't recall ever seeing any toy cars, trucks, farm items, or things like that. Seems strange that there would not have been toys lying around the house from time to time. I know he did have some up in his room and we got an occasional glimpse at them in his bedroom scenes. Guess that is why I always enjoyed the scene so much where Barney sits down with Opie and goes through the catalog with him. One can still see the little boy in Barney as Andy describes what he once built with an erector set. As a child I always wanted an erector set but never got one. I did get my Lincoln logs and tinker toys. My wife still has her original set of tinker toys in the cylinder box. I actually get it out once in a while and make a few things. Those simple toys were so much fun and really allowed kids to use their creativitiy and imaginations. Thinking back, would any of you like to share what your favorite toy was that you once got for Christmas? I would say mine was a metal gas station that had a lift that you could crank to move cars up to the top floor. I played with that for many hours. I must have been around 8 when I got it. When we would stay at the Taylor Home Inn I always enjoyed staying in Opie's room because Marsha had so many old classic toys all over the room Many were exactly like I had.
-- Ken Anderson The Mayberry Guru 2906 May Street Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 www.mayberryreflections.com _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
